Sealed container with hinged cover



Feb. 27, 1951 M. WILLIAMSON ET AL SEALED CONTAINER WITH HINGED COVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 19. 1945 Herman fl. [aria/lb ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1951 M. l. WILLIAMSON ETAL SEALED CONTAINER WITH HINGED COVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 19, 1945 4% m N E V W Herman fl. (arm/7 ATTORNEYS Feb. 27, 1951 M. WILLIAMSON ETAL 2,543,034

SEALED CONTAINER WITH mum-2n COVER Filed Sept. 19, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 if??? as i INVENTORS fiarslazll [Mllmmmn [lemma )9. ['arra/k HTTORNEYS' Feb.- 27, 1951 M. l. WILLIAMSON ET AL SEALED CONTAINER WITH HINGED COVER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 19, 1945 Mars/ml! [52711006011 [ff/"man fl. farru/lv Feb. 27, 1951 M. l. WILLlAMSON ETAL SEALED CONTAINER WITH HINGED govER 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 19, 1945 HTTORNEY S fldJ'J/tdi/ Z iii/141115021 ldrrallt new MW Henna a Patented Feb. 27, 1951 SEALED CONTAINER WITH HINGED COVER Marshall I. Williamson, New Haven, and Herman A. Carruth, Northford, Conn., assignors. by mesne assignments, to National Folding Box Company, Incorporated, a corporation of Connecticut Application September 19, 1945, Serial No. 617,252

7 Claims.

This invention relates to sealed container with hinged cover and more particularly to a container comprising a box body having enclosing side walls and sealed top and bottom end walls and a hinged cover part attached to the box part and providing a convenient re-closure therefor when the adjacent sealed end of the box part has been opened.

In accordance with a preferred form of this invention, the box part of the container is formed and assembled from a paperboard blank presenting enclosing side wall panels, and top and bottom end sealing panels whereby a substantially siftproof package is provided. The cover part which, preferably, is also formed and assembled from a paperboard blank, comprises a top wall panel adapted to cover the top sealed end of the box part, and enclosing flanges or side sections conforming to and adapted to telescope over the upper ends of corresponding side walls of the box part. The sealed top end of the box part is provided with a projecting flap or abutment element adapted to cooperate with an abutment flap or element associated with one of the enclosing flanges of the telescoping cover part in a manner to releasably resist hinging opening movement of the cover part and releasably retain the cover part in closed position.

When the hinged cover part has been raised from its releasably closed position, the sealed top end of the box part may be opened, for removal of contents in any of several ways, as by puncturing, cutting out a-section or cutting oil a corner. Preferably, however, the top end sealing panels of the box part'are provided with a suitably cut and/r perforated lines defining a breakout area which may be removed to provide an opening through which the contents may be conveniently dispensed, as by pouring or with a spoon or other utensil.

After a desired amount of the contents has been removed from the box part, the hinged cover part may quickly and simply be returned to its original releasably secured closed position to cover the dispensing opening in the sealed top end of the box part and so provided continuing protection for the remainder of the contents against spilling and contamination.

Thus it will be appreciated that the hinged cover part provides a convenient and effective re-closure for the box part when the sealed top end of the box part has been opened for partial removal of its contents. Such a conveniently openable and re-closable container is particularly advantageous for the packaging of incrementally dispensable powdered or granular materials,

This improved container may be formed and,

assembled from substantially rectangular blanks of paperboard material, which blanks may be cut with a minimum of waste. The box part and the cover part are each so designed and constructed as to permit economical assembly thereof by the use of generally available box assembly machinery and without employing hand assembly methods or the use of specialized assembly equipment.

The container may be so designed and constructed as to permit partial assembly of the box blank as a collapsed shell by the carton manufacturer, which collapsed shells may be stacked together and shipped in a minimum of space along with the cover forming blanks. The flat body forming blanks or the collapsed body shells and the cover forming blanks may be conveniently assembled as needed by the merchandise manufacturer on automatic box assembly machines at a high speed of production and at relatively low cost.

An object of this invention is to provide a hinged cover container comprising a self contained box part with sealable end walls and a hinged cover part adapted to telescope over one end of the box part and enclose one of such sealable end walls therein, said cover part and the therein enclosed sealed box end wall having cooperating abutment elements adapted to releasably resist opening movement of the cover part. I a

Another object of this invention is to provide such a hinged cover container wherein the box part and the cover part are both formed from minimum waste blanks of paperboard material and designed to permit high speed and economical production on standard folding box manufacturing equipment.

A further object of this invention is to provide such hinged cover containers capable of high speed, economical, automatic assembly, filling and sealing on standard machines for so doing.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the disclosure proceeds. A

In order that a more complete understanding of this invention and the advantages thereof may be made apparent, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and, in which I Fig. 1 is a plan view of the inside face of a 3 prepared paperboard blank which has been suitably cut and scored to provide the box part of such a. container.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inside face of a prepared blank which has been suitably cut and scored to provide one form of hinged cover part for the container.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the blank shown in Fig. 1 with the enclosing walls thereof assembled into expanded tubular form and the bottom end in the process of being closed.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the box part filled, after closing and sealing of the bottom end, and showing the top end wall forming tabs and flaps in the process of being folded into end sealing position after receiving adhesive.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the box part showing the top end forming flaps at a further stage of folding into sealing position.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the box part showing the top end forming flaps in fully closed and sealed position.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the cover forming blank shown in Fig. 2 at one stage of erection into a cover part.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the fully assembled cover part formed from blank shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the fully assembled box part, showing the cover part attached to the box part and swun into open position.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the fully assembled container formed from the blanks shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and with the cover part in closed position over the top end of the box part.

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross sectional view of the fully assembled container as the same appears when viewed along line ll-ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross sectional view of the upper portion of the fully assembled container illustrating particularly the cooperating relationship between the abutment elements when the cover part is in the process of being forcibly raised into open position.

Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the completed container shown in Fig. 10 as viewed from the rear thereof.

Fig. 14 is a plan view of the inside face of a prepared paperboard blank which has been cut and scored to provide a box part of slightly modified construction.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the inside face of a prepared blank which has been suitably cut and scored to provide a cover part of slightly modified construction.

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of the box forming blank shown in Fig. 14 folded, glued and ex panded to tubular form, with top end forming flaps folded outwardly and showing adhesive applied to the flaps while in this opsition preparatory to closing and sealing.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the box part as the same appears at an early stage of closing and sealing.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the box part as the same appears at a further advanced stage of closing and sealing.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the box part showing the top end thereof in fully closed and sealed condition.

Fig. 20 is a erspective view of the cover forming blank shown in Fig. 15 as the same appears when fully erected to provide a cover part.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the fully assembled box part with an upper front corner cut off to permit pouring out of the contents, the assembled cover part shown in Fig. 20 being secured to the box part and swung into open position.

Fig. 22 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the assembled container shown in Fig. 21, this view showing the cover part in closed position.

Fig. 23 is a vertical cross sectional view through the upper portion of the fully assembled container as it appears when viewed along line 23-23 of Fig. 22.

Fig. 24 is a vertical cross sectional view through the upper portion of the container shown in Fig. 22 showing the position and relationship of the cooperating abutment elements associated with the cover part and box part when the cover part is in the process of being swung into open position.

Fig. 25 is a plan view of the inside face of a prepared blank of further modified form from which a box part with only one open end may be assembled.

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the inside face of a prepared blank from which a further modified cover part may be assembled.

Fig. 27 is a perspective view of the blank shown in Fig. 25 as the same appears at one stage of assembly into a box part after application of adhesive.

Fig. 28 shows the box part illustrated in Fig. 27 at a further stage of assembly with the bottom end completely formed and sealed and the top end open, ready for filling, closing and sealing.

Fig. 29 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the box part, shown in Fig. 28. after filling, and showing the top end at an early stage of closing and sealing, with the adhesive applied to two of the flaps.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the box part shown in Fig. 29 as the same appears before the final closing and sealing operation.

Fig. 31 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the box part formed from the blank shown in Fig. 25 showing the top end fully closed and sealed.

Fig. 32 is a perspective view of the partially assembled cover part assembled from the blank shown in Fig. 26, after application of adhesive.

Fig. 33 is a perspective view of the fully assembled cover part with adhesive applied to the hinge flap designed for attachment to the box part shown in Fig. 31.

Fig. 34 is a, perspective view of the upper portion of the box part shown in Fig. 31 having the cover part shown in Fig. 33 applied and secured thereto, the cover part being shown in opened position.

Fig. 35 is a vertical cross sectional view of the upper portion of the fully assembled container shown in Fig. 34 as the same appears when the cover part is in closed position.

Fig. 36 is a vertical cross sectional view of the container shown in Fig. 34, this view illustrating the manner in which the abutment elements associated with the box part and cover part cooperate to releasably resist opening movement of the cover part.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings and specification.

The improved hinged cover container as illussurfaces.

trated in Figs. 1 to 13 inclusive, comprises a box part A assembled from the prepared blank shown in Fig. l and a cover part B assembled from the prepared blank shown in Fig. 2. The box forming blank shown in Fig. 1 comprises a plurality of enclosing panels which for simplicity in "description may be referred to as a front wall panel I, a rear wall panel 2, and side wall panels 3 and 4 hingedly connected in side by side relationship along parallel extending score lines 6. A securing flap 5 hinged to the side edge of the rear wall panel 2 along score line I is provided for securement to the free side edge of the side wall panel 4. A bottom forming tab II is hinged to the lower end of each of the side wall panels 3 and 4 along the score line I0. A bottom forming flap 8, hinged to the lower end of the rear wall panel 2 along the score line I, is adapted to be folded over the lnturned tabs II when the box part is assembled, and a bottom forming flap 9, hinged to the lower end of the front wall panel I along score line I0", is foldable over the outside face of the bottom forming flap 8. The score lines I0 and I0 are slightly out of alignment with each other and with the score lines I0 to permit folding assembly of the bottom formin tabs II and bottom forming flaps 8 and 9 to provide a firm and sturdy bottom forv the box part.

A top wall forming tab I4 is hingedly connected to the upper end of each of the side wall panels 3 and 4 along the score line I3. A top wall formin flap I2 is hingedly connected to the upper end of the rear wall panel 2 along the score line I3, and a top wall forming flap I5 is hinged to the upper end of the front wall panel I along the score line I3. The upper end of each of the top wall forming tabs I4 may be provided with a notch I9 to define an opening therebetween when the box part is assembled. A somewhat similar notch 20 may also be provided in the top wall forming flap I5, the notch 20- being shaped to match the opening formed by the notches I9 in the tabs I4 when the box part is assembled. And top wall forming flap I2 may have a punch-out area I8, defined by perforated lines I! located to match with the notches formed in the tabs I4 and the flap I5, to provide a dispensing opening in the top wall of the box part when assembled. An abutment flap l6 hinged to the upper edge of the top wall flap I2 along the score line 2| provides means for releasably retaining the cover part in closed position as more particularly hereinafter described.

In assembling the prepared box forming blank shown in Fig. 1 into box form, adhesive is applied to the outside face of the securing flap 5. The enclosing panels 2 and 4 are folded toward each other about their corner defining score lines 6, and the securing flap 5 adhesively secured to the inside face of the side wall panel 4 along the free side edge thereof, thereby providing an'expandable tubular-construction as shown expanded in Fig. 3. In closing and sealing the bottom end of the box part, bottom forming tabs II are folded inwardly so as to extend substantially in alignment and adhesive is applied to their outer Then bottom forming flap 8 is folded to overlie and adhere to the tabs I I, and adhesive is applied to its outside surface, whereupon bottom forming flap 9 is folded over and pressed into adhesive engagement with the'outside face of flap 8, thereby completing assembly and sealing of the bottom end wall of the box part.

In forming and sealing the top wall of the box part, adhesive is applied to the outside face of the top wall forming flap l5 and this flap is then folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 4. The top wall forming flap I2 is folded downwardly and pressed into adhesive engagement with the flap I5 as shown in Fig. 5. Adhesive is also applied to the inside face of each of the top wall forming tabs I4 and these tabs are then folded inwardly and pressed into adhesive engagement with the outside face of flap I2, completing the assembly of the top wall of the box part as shown in Fig. 6.

It will be appreciated that the flaps and tabs constituting the bottom and top end walls of the box part may be folded and adhesively secured in closed position on carton end-sealing machines of standard design and that either the bottom end wall or the top end wall may be first closed and sealed and the box part filled with contents before the other end wall is closed and sealed. As shown in Fig. 6, the abutment flap or element I6 will overhang the upper end of the front wall panel I of the assembled box part, and it will be noted that the score line 2| for the abutment element I6 is preferably located slightly back from the front edge of the top wall when the box partis assembled so that a certain resistance to downward hinging movement of the abutment flap I6 is produced with a consequent tendency for the flap to spring or stand out from the front wall of the box part.

When the top wall forming tabs I4 and flaps I2 and I5 have been assembled to provide the top end wall of the box part as shown in Fig. 6, the punch-out portion I8 of the flap I2 will be in substantial alignment with the notch 20 in the flap I5 and the notches I 9 in the tabs I4, so that access to the contents may be had by removing the punch-out portion I8. A box part for containing powdered or granular contents may thus be provided which is substantially leakproof during shipment and storage, and yet which affords the user convenient access to the contents by merely removing the punch-out portion IS.

The cover part B as shown in Fig. 8 may be easily and quickly assembled from the blank shown in Fig. 2, the blank comprising a top wall panel I00 having side wall flanges IOI hinged thereto along score lines I02 and a front wall flange I 04 hinged thereto along the score line I05. A corner forming tab I06 is hinged to one end of each of the side wall flanges IOI along A flange-reinforcing and y shown in Fig. 2, the side wall flanges I DI are flap I08 is folded over the corner tabs I06 and pressed down into adhesive engagement with their inner faces and also with the inner face 7 of the front flange panel I04, thereby producing a fully assembled cover part as shown in Fig. 8.

It will be noted from Figs. 2, 7 and 8 that the front flange-reinforcing and corner-securing flap I08 of the cover part is of considerably less height or depth than the front flange panel I04 and that, with its longitudinal free cut edge IIO, it thus forms a fixed abutment element upon the inside surface of the front flange panel of the cover part.

The cover part may be applied and secured to the box part by telescoping it over the sealed top end of the box part, thereby bending and forcing the abutment flap I6 down against the front wall panel I of the box part. While in this position, adhesive may be applied to the under side of the securing flap I03 of the cover part which flap may then be folded down and pressed into adhesive engagement with the back panel 2 of the box part as shown in Fig. 13.

When the cover part is thus secured in closed position, the longitudinal cut edge III) of the cover abutment element I08 will directly underlie the abutment edge 22 of the box abutment element I6, thereby normally retaining the cover part in closed position. However, when liftin force is exerted on the front flange I04 of the cover part, compressive stress is exerted on the box abutment element I6 until the front flange I04 of the cover part has been lifted to a predetermined position at which the hinging abutment element I6 will release its grip on the cover abutment element I08 and subsequently permit the cover part to be freely swung into full open position. Thus the abutment elements I6 and I08 associated with the box part and cover part respectively cooperate to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement of the cover part. The material from which the box part and/or cover part is formed is sufficiently flexible to permit this release resisting action of the two abutment elements.

It will be appreciated that the cover part B thus provides a convenient reclosable cover for the upper end of the box part when the breakout portion I8 of the top wall has been removed. Thus protection to the contents is provided at all times after the sealed top wall of the box part has been broken. The merchandise manufacturer is thus assured that his merchandise, when packaged in the container herein disclosed, is fully protected within the sealed box part, and

the consumer is assured that after the top wall of the box part has been broken open to remove a portion of the contents, the remaining unused portion will continue to be protected by use of the conveniently reclosable hinged cover part.

The blank from which the box part is formed may be cut and. scored by the carton manufacturer from large sheets or rolls of suitable paperboard material on an automatic cutting and scoring machine at a high production rate with assemble the box forming blanks into tubular form as shown in Fig. 3 and the partially assembled tubular box blanks shipped collapsed in a minimum of space to the merchandise manufacturer. When the merchandise is packed therein the merchandise manufacturer, using a standard end sealing machine, may close and seal one end of the box part, fill the box part with contents, and then close and seal the other end.

The cover forming blank as shown in Fig. 2 may also be cut and scored by the carton manufacturer from large sheets or rolls of paperboard material which likewise need be finished and printed or lithographed on one side only, and the cover blanks may be shipped in a minimum of space to the merchandise manufacturer. The cover assembly operations as shown in Figs. '7 and 8 can be automatically performed on a standard box assembly machine, and at any time prior to shipment of the filled box part, the assembled cover part may be secured to the top end of the box part and swung into closed position. Substantial economies in manufacture, packaging and assembly results from the use of this improved hinged cover container, with the assurance that the-merchandise within the container is fully protected during shipment, in storage and during the period the container is in use by the consumer.

There is shown in Fig. 14 to Fig. 24 inclusive, a hinged cover container of slightly modified construction, comprising a box part A formed from the blank shown in Fig. 14 and a cover part B formed from the paperboard blank shown in Fig. 15. The prepared paperboard blank shown in Fig. 14 is substantially similar to the blank shown in Fig. 1 except folcertain details. As shown in Fig. 14, the top wall fla I2 hinged to the upper end of the rear wall panel 2 along score line 23", carries an abutment flap 24 hinged to the front edge of the top wall flap I2 along score line 25. A top wall forming tab I4 is hinged to the upper end of each of the side wall panels 3 and 4 along a score line 23. A top wall forming flap I5 is hinged to the upper end of the front wall panel I along the score line 23'.

In assembling the box part A from the blank shown in Fig. 14, the inclosing panels I, 2, 3, and 4 are folded along the side edge defining score lines 8 to provide a tubular body, and the securing flap 5 is adhesively secured to the inside face of the adjacent free edge of the side wall panel 4.

The bottom end wall of the box part is assembled in a manner heretofore described by folding the bottom tabs II inwardly along the score lines I0, applying adhesive to the inside faces of bottom flaps 8 and 9 and folding flap 8 along the score line I0 50 as to overlie and adhesively engage the tabs II, then folding bottom flap 9 into firm adhesive engagement with the outside face of flap 8.

The top end wall of the box part A is assembled by flrst folding in the tabs I4 and applying adhesive to the inside surfaces of flaps I5 and I2 including the associated abutment element 24 as shown in Fig. 17. Fla I5 is then folded inwardly and pressed into adhesive engagement with the inturned tabs I4 as shown in Fig. 18, and flap I2 is folded over and adhesively secured to flap I5. Finally the abutment flap 24 is folded downwardly and pressed into adhesive engagement with the outside face of the front wall panel I as shown in Fig. 19.

A sealed box part is thus provided in which the contents are fully protected and which is substantially sift-proof in construction. The

merchandise contents may be inserted after either the bottom end or the top end of the box part is sealed, and after insertion of the contents, the remaining unclosed end closed and sealed. The box part forming blanks formed as shown in Fig. 14 are so designed that they need be finished and lithographed on one side only and may be cut and scored from large rolls or sheets of paperboard material at high production speeds and with a minimum of waste. Blanks may be assembled in tubular form by the carton manufacturer and shipped to the merchandise manufacturer in collapsed form so as to occupy a minimum of space. The merchandise manufacturer may complete the assembly of the box part by the use of standard machines, usually proceeding by sealing one end of the partially assembled box part, inserting the contents, and then sealing and closing the other end.

There is illustrated in Fig. 20 a cover part B of somewhat modified form which may be assembled from the prepared paperboard blank shown in Fig. 15. The blank shown in Fig. 15 comprises a top wall panel I having a front flange section 104 hinged to the front edge thereof along a score line I05, and a securing flap I03 hinged to the rear edge thereof along the score line I04. A side wall forming flange I M is hinged to each end of the front flange I04 along the score line II3. A securing tab III is hinged to an edge of each side flange i0I along a score line H2. An abutment flap I08 is hinged to an edge of the front flange I04 along the score line I09, which score line forms the lower edge of the front flange when the cover part is fully assembled. The cover forming blank shown in Fig. 15 may be cut and scored from large sheets of paperboard material and need be finished and lithographed or printed on one side thereof only. The prepared cover forming blanks may be shipped flat to the merchandise manufacturer for assembly as needed.

In assembling the blank shown in Fig. 15 to provide a cover part as shown in Fig. 20, the front flange I04 is erected to extend substantially at right angles to the top wall panel I00, side flanges IOI are folded to extend at right angles to the front flange I04, with the securing tabs II I positioned to overlie either the inside face or the outside face of the top wall panel I00. The tabs I I I are secured to the top Wall panel I00 by suitable adhesive. It will be noted that the securing tabs I II serve to reinforce and strengthen the top wall panel I00 and when secured thereto retain the front flange I04 and the side flanges MI in rigid right angular relationship to the top wall panel IIO. It will be further noted that the abutment flap I08 is free to hinge about the score line I09 and is not adhesively secured to the inside face of the front flange I04.

The cover part is secured to the box part by applyin adhesive g to the inside face of the securing flap I03, which is then pressed into adhesive contact with the outside face of the rear wall panel 2 of the box part in a manner so that score line I04 provides a'hinge for th cover part directly adjacent to the score line 23" which defines the upper edge of the rear wall panel 2 of the box part. The cover part is so formed that the side flanges IOI thereof will snugly telescope over the adjacent side wall panels 3 and 4 of the box part and the front flang I 04 will snugly telescope over the front wall panel I of the box part.

When the cover part is in closed position as shown in Figs. 22 and 23, the upturned abutment edge I I0 of the hinged abutment flap I00 of the cover part will extend under and substantially abut the abutment edge 22 of the fixed abutment element 24 of the box part. When lifting force is exerted upon the front flange I04 of the cover part, the abutment flap I08" will execute a hinging movement as shown in Fig. 24, and during this initial opening movement compressive stress will be exerted upon the hinged abutment flap I08 and continued until enough lifting force has been applied to the cover part to cause sufflcient flexure of the front flange I04 or other parts of the container to permit complete opening movement of the cover part.

To obtain access to the contents of the container after the cover part has been swung to open position, the top end wall of the box part may be opened in any of several ways, as by puncturing, cutting out a section, or cutting off a corner as indicated at a: in Fig. 21. Thus it will be appreciated that the hinged cover part serves an important purpose in providing a Protective closure for the upper end of the box part when punctured, cut or broken out at any area covered by the re-closable cover part.

There i shown in Figs. 25 to 36 inclusive a hinged cover container of further modified construction, comprising a box part A formed from the blank shown in Fig. 25 and an attached cover part B" formed from the blank shown in Fig. 26. The box forming blank A" may be cut and prepared from paperboard material finished or lithographed on one side thereof only. The blank comprises a front wall panel 3| and a rear wall panel 32 hingedly connected along the parallel extendingscore lines 34 and 35 to a bottom wall panel 33. Side wall forming panels 40 are hingedly connected by the parallel extending score lines 31 to the opposite side edges of the front wall panel 3 I. Securing flaps 36 and hingedlv connected to the opposite side edges of the rear wall panel 32 along the parallel extending score line 31'. Bottom tabs 38 are also hingedly connected along parallel extending score lines 31' to the opposite side edges of the bottom panel 33. The paired score lines 3'! ar slightly out of alignment with the paired score lines 31' to facilitate assembly of the blank into box part form. r

The top end of the box part is formed by the paired top wall forming tabs 42 hinged to the upper end of the paired side wall panels 40 along the respective score lines 43.. A top wall flap 4| is hinged to the upper end of the front wall panel 3| along a score line 43', the score line 43' being slightly out of alignment with the score lines 43. A second top wall flap 44 is hinged to the upper end of the rear w ll panel 32 alon the score line 45. The tabs 42 are each provided with a wing extension 46 hinged to the inner side edges of each tab which serve to provide abutment elements to releasablyretain the hinged cover part in closed position. The tabs 42 may each be provided with a notch cut-out 49 to provide an aperture therebetween when the top end of the box part is assembled. A cut-out 48 formed in the top wall flap M and a tear-out section 5| defined by the perforated line 50 in the top wall flap 44, provide means for forming a dispensing opening in the top wall of the container.

The box forming blanks A" may be stacked together in flat condition and shipped to the merchandise manufacturer for assembly as needed.

The blanks are adapted to be assembled on a standard box assembling machine which operates,

first, to apply'adhesive to the inside faces of the side wall forming panels 40 and then, by means of a plunger, to drive the bottom wall panel 33 into a pocket provided, at its mouth, with guides which, in proper sequence, raise the back and front wall panels 3| and 32 and turn in the bottom tabs 38, the securing flap 36 and the side wall forming panels 40 to a position substantially at a right angle respectively to the bottom wall panel 33, the back wall panel 32 and the front wall panel 3|, the sequence being such that the adhesive bearing side wall forming panels 40 are turned in last to overlie and be pressed into adhesive engagement with both the bottom tabs 38 and the securing flaps 36, thus providing an assembled box part with open top end as shown in Fig. 28.

It will be noted that the lower ends of the securing flaps 36 are provided with a mitered edge 39 which is designed to substantially abut the adjacent mitered edge 39 of the adjacent bottom tabs 38. as shown in Fig. 27.

The box part may then be filled with merchandise through the opened upper end thereof whereafter the top end sealing operation may be performed. In sealing the-top end wall, adhesive is applied to the outside face of the top wall flap 4| and to the inside face of the top wall flap 44. Flap 4| is then turned in, as shown in Fig. 29, followed by the tabs 42, which are pressed into adhesive engagement with the outer face of flap 4|, as in Fig. 30, and then flap 44 is pressed into adhesive engagement with the outer faces of the tabs 42. This completes the sealing of the top end wall of the box part, the thus sealed box appearing as shown in Fig. 31. When the top wall has been thus assembled, the abutment flaps or elements 46 hinged to the tabs 42 will overhang the front wall panel 3| as shown in Figs. 31 and 32.

The cover part B" to be attached to the assembled box part A" comprises a top wall panel I havin Side wall flanges IOI hinged to the opposite side edges thereof along score lines I02, a securing flap I03 hinged to the rear edge of the top wall panel alon score line I04, a front wall flange I04 hinged to the front edge of the top wall panel I00 along score line I05, and a corner forming securing tab I06 hinged to each of the side flanges IOI along score line I01. The securing tabs I06 have end extensions I06 of reduced width so that each tab presents an abutment edge I08. The cover forming blanks B" may be stacked together in flat condition and shipped to the merchandise manufacturer for assembly as needed. These blanks may be assembled on a standard box assembling machine which operates, first, to apply adhesive to the inside face of the front wall -flange I04 at opposite ends thereof in a pattern substantially the size and shape of the corner-forming securing tabs I06; then, by means of a plunger, to drive the top wall panel I00 into a pocket equipped with guides which, in proper sequence, raise the side wall flanges IM to a position at right angles to the top wall panel, turn the corner forming tabs I06 in at right angles to the side wall flanges, and raise the front flange I 04 also at right angle to the top wall panel and into adhesive engagement with the corner tabs I06.

To attach the cover part B" to the box part A, adhesive is applied to the inside face of the securing flap I03 of the cover part and the cover part then pressed into adhesive engagement with the outside face of the rear wall panel 32 of the 12 box part in a manner so that the hinging score line I04 of the cover part is positioned closely adjacent to the score line 45 which defines the upper end of the rear wall panel 32 of the box part. The cover part is proportioned and designed so that the top wall panel I00 thereof will cover the upper end of the box part with the side flanges ml and front flange of the cover part snugly telescoping over the upper ends of the side wall panels 40 and front wall panel 3| of the box part. When the cover part is in closed position the abutment edge I08 of the corner tab extension I06 of the cover part will substantially abut the abutment edges 46 of the downturned hinged abutment flaps 46 associated with the box part.

The cover part B" may be opened by applying an upward lifting force to the front flange I04, thereby imposing compressive stress on the hinged abutment flaps 46 as shown in Fig. 36. It will be appreciated that the abutment flaps or elements 46 and I06 associated with the box part and cover part respectively, cooperate to resist openin movement of the cover part, so that only after the cover part has been forcibly lifted to a predetermined position may the cover part be swung freely into full open position as shown in Fig. 34. Access to the contents P in the box part may be had by severing and removing the tear-out section 5|, thereby providing a dispensing opening. Thereafter the hinged cover part serves as a closure for the box part and prevents spilling or the entry of foreign matter into the box part through the pouring opening.

From the illustrated embodiments above described it will be observed that hinged cover containers may be provided which can be simply and economically formed and assembled from two separate and substantially rectangular blanks of paperboard material, one blank designed to form the box part and the other blank designed to form the cover part. The cover part is provided with a securing flap or other means for hingedly securing the cover part to the rear wall of the box part. An important feature of this invention is the provision of a box part comprising top wall forming flaps and tabs which may be assembled to provide a sealed top end wall for the box part so that the box part provides a substantially siftproof package in which the contents are adequately protected. The top wall of the box part may however be provided with break-out portions or sections to provide a dispensing opening through which the contents may be removed, the cover part then serving as a closure for the opened top wall of the box part, thereby protecting the contents from contamination and loss through spillage when the sealed top wall of the box part is broken. It will be particularly observed that the abutment fiaps or elements associated with the box part are formed as a part of one of the top wall forming flaps or tabs and are so arranged and located that the abutment element or flap so formed may be folded to overlie the outside face of the front wall panel of the box part to cooperate with a companion abutment element associated with the cover part to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement thereof.

It will be noted that the hinging abutment flap may be associated with either the box part or the cover part, and alternatively the complementary fixed abutment flap or element may be associated with either the box part or the cover part, it being preferable to provide for hinging movement of one of the abutment flaps while the other abutment flap is secured in fixed position. It will also be appreciated that the top wall forming tabs and the two top wall forming flaps forming a characteristic part of the top wall of each of the box parts illustrated, may be folded and secured together in various sequences to provide a substantially three-ply top wall for the box part. In other words, the top wall forming tabs may be first folded in position with the top wall forming flaps folded consecutively thereover as illustrated for example in Fig. 17, or one of the top wall forming flaps may be first infolded and the top wall forming tabs next infolded to provide the intermediate layer of the three-ply top wall Fig. 30 or both of the top wall flaps may be first infolded and the top wall tabs folded thereover to provide the outer layer or ply of the top wall in the manner shown in Fig. 6. Thus the various elements which form the box part and the cover part in the various illustrated embodiments may be arranged various ways to achieve the novel and advantageous characteristics of this invention.

It will he therefore appreciated that various omissions, substitutions and re-arrangements may be made by those skilled in the art without departure from the novel concept and spirit of this invention as defined by the annexed claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An improved hinge cover container comprising, a box part having a plurality of enclosing side panels forming a tubular body, a bottom wall panel closing the bottom end thereof, a plurality of inturned flaps respectively hinged to the upper ends of certain of said inclosing side panels of the box part providing a plural-ply top wall panel for the box part, a hinged cover part having an end wall panel adapted to cover the top wall panel of the box part, means for hingedly connecting said end wall panel to one of the enclosing side panels of the box part, cover flange panels joined to said cover end panel adapted to telescope over corresponding enclosing side panels of the box part, cooperating abutment elements associated with one of the cover flange panels and a free edge of one of the top wall flaps of the box part, said abutment elements being operative to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement thereof, said top wall panel of the box part having means to provide a contents removing therein, said cover part when in closed position being designed to provide a closure for such opening.

2. An improved hinge cover container comprising, a box part having a plurality of enclosing side panels forming a tubular body, a bottom wall,

panel closing the bottom end thereof, a plurality of inturned flaps respectively hinged to the upper ends of certain of said inclosing side panels of the box part providing a plural-ply top wall panel for the box part, a hinged cover part having an end wall panel adapted to cover the top wall panel of the box part, a securing flap hingedly connecting said end wall panel to one of the enclosing side panels of the box part, cover flange panels joined to said cover end panel adapted to telescope over corresponding enclosing side panels of the box part, and cooperating abutment elements operative to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement thereof, one of said abutment elements comprising an abutment flap hinged to a 14 free edge of one of the top wall forming flaps of the box part and normally overhanging one of the inclosing side panels thereof, said other abutment element being fixed to the inside face of the corresponding flange panel of the cover part.

3. An improved hinge cover container comprising, a box part having a plurality of enclosing side panels forming a tubular body, a bottom wall panel closing the bottom end thereof, a plurality of inturned flaps respectively hinged to the upper ends of certain of said inclosing side panels of the box part providing a plural-ply top wall panel for the box part, a hinged cover part having an end wall panel adapted to cover the top wall panel of the box part, a securing iiap for hingedly connecting said end wall panel of the cover part to one of the enclosing side panels of the box part, cover flange panels joined to said cover end panel of the cover part adapted to telescope over corresponding enclosing side panels of the box part, and cooperating abutment elements operative to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement thereof, one of said abutment elements comprising an abutment flap extending from a free edge of one of the top wall forming flaps of the box part and overhanging the outside face of the adjacent enclosing side panel thereof, said other abutment element comprising an abutment fiap associated with one of the corresponding flange panels of the cover part and normally overlying the inside face thereof.

4. An improved hinge cover container comprising, a box part formed from a single blank of paperboard material presenting enclosing front, rear and side wall panels providing a tubular body, a bottom wall panel enclosing the bottom end thereof, inturned top wall forming tabs hinged to the upper ends of said side wall panels, a top wall forming flap hinged to the upper end of said rear wall panel, and a top wall forming flap hinged to the upper end of said front wall panel, said tabs and flaps providing a plural-ply top wall panel for the box part, a cover part having an end wall panel adapted to cover the top wall panel of the box part, means for hingedly connecting said end wall panel of the cover part,

to the upper end of the rear wall panel of the box part, cover flange panels joined to said cover end panel adapted to telescope over the corresponding side panels and front panel of the box part, cooperating abutment elements operative to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement thereof, one of said abutment elements being connected to the inside face of the front flange of said cover part and said other abutment element being integral with and extending from the front free edge of said first named top wall forming flap of the box part and adapted to overhang the outside face of the front wall panel thereof, one of said abutment elements comprising a hinging flap.

5. An improved hinge cover container comprising, a box part formed from a single blank of paperboard material presenting enclosing front, rear and side wall panels providing a tubular body, a bottom wall panel enclosing the bottom end thereof, inturned top wall forming tabs hinged to the upper ends of said side wall panels, a top wall forming flap hinged to the upper end of said rear wall panel, and a top wall forming flap hinged to the upper end of said front wall panel, said tabs and flaps providing a plural-ply top wall panel for the box part, a cover part having an end wall panel adapted to cover the top wall panel of the box part, means for hingedly connecting said end wall panel of the cover part to the upper end of the rear wall panel of the box part, cover flange panels joined to said cover end panel adapted to telescope over the corresponding side panels and front panel of the box part, cooperating abutment elements operative to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement thereof, one of said abutment elements being connected to the inside face of the front flange of said cover part and said other abutment element being integral with the free front edge of one of said top wall forming tabs of the box part and adapted to overhang the outside face of the front wall panel thereof, one of said abutment elements comprising a hinging flap.

6. An improved hinge cover container comprising, a box part formed from a single blank of paperboard material presenting enclosing front, rear and side wall panels providing a tubular body, inturned top wall forming tabs hinged to the upper ends of said side wall panels, a top wall forming flap hinged to the upper end of said rear wall panel, and a top wall forming flap hinged to the upper end of said front wall panel, said tabs and flaps providing a plural-ply top wall panel for the box part, a cover part having an end wall panel adapted to cover the top wall panel of the box part, means for hingedly connecting said cover end wall panel to the upper end of the rear wall panel of the box part, cover flange panels joined to said cover end panel adapted to telescope over the correspondin side panels and front panel of the box part, a pair of cooperating abutment flaps operative to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement thereof, one of said abutment flaps being fixed to the inside face of the front flange panel of said cover part and said other abutment flap being hinged to the free front edge of one of said top wall forming tabs of the box part and adapted to overhang Number 16 the outside face of the front wall panel thereof.

7. An improved hinge cover container comprising, a box part having a plurality of enclosing side panels forming a tubular body, a bottom wall panel closing the bottom end thereof, a plurality of inturned flaps respectively hinged to the upper ends of certain of said enclosing side panels of the box part providing a plural-ply top wall panel for the box part, a hinged cover part having an end wall panel adapted to cover the top wall panel of the box part, means for hingedly connecting said end wall panel to one of the enclosing side panels of the box part, cover flange panels joined to said cover end panel adapted to telescope over corresponding enclosing side panels of the box part, cooperating abutment elements associated with one of the cover flange panels and a free edge of one of the top wall flaps of the box part, said abutment elements being operative to releasably retain the cover part in closed position and releasably resist opening movement thereof, said cover part when in closed position providing a secondary closure for the plural-ply top wall panel of the box part.

MARSHALL I. WILLIAMSON.

HERMAN A. CARRUTH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 1,683,192 Huye Sept. 4, 1928 1,746,006 Metzger Feb. 4, 1930 2,017,176 Andrews Oct. 15, 1935 2,329,628 Lanigan Sept. 14, 1943 2,330,466 Bergstein Sept. 28, 1943 2,349,605 Becker May 23, 1944 2,369,385 Carruth et al Feb. 13, 1945 2,369,387 Williamson et a1. Feb. 13, 1945 2,369,388 Carruth et al Feb. 13, 1945 2,390,392 Rous Dec. 4, 1945 2,407,781 Guyer Sept. 17, 1946 

